Ok... so I have a mac and the home diagnostic toolkit won't run which I expected. I still want to be prepared for Thursday though. If I pick up the OS for $25 will that be all I need? My previous computer was a desktop and I still have my office program for that. Would that work? And is doing this and having windows on this computer going to make it more vulnerable to the viruses and such that it is currently protected from?
First, some quick links:
Simplehelp.com: Using Boot Camp to install Vista
Apple.com: Using Windows Via Boot Camp
Office for $53 or so through Mercer IT
VMWare Fusion for $40
Free ClamAV virus Scanner (for Windows)
Let's deal with the issues on by one.
- Ok... so I have a mac and the home diagnostic toolkit won't run which I expected.
The Home Diagnostic is a WINDOWS program, and won't run on a Mac. (The vice versa is also true, BTW) - If I pick up the OS for $25 will that be all I need? My previous computer was a desktop and I still have my office program for that. Would that work?
This is an "It depends" situation. Assuming your aim is to get your Mac setup to be totally usable for this class, you WILL need an OS disk ($25 from computer science). If your desktop machine had Office 2007, those install disks will work IF your version had Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Access [some versions of Office don't!]. If you had Office 2003, DO NOT try to use it for this class. [Trust me, your brain will thank you later for keeping things simpler]. - And is doing this and having windows on this computer going to make it more vulnerable to the viruses and such that it is currently protected from?
Ahhhh, the proverbial $64,000 question! Short answer: YES, the windows side will be virus-vulnerable. This would ONLY affect the Windows partition of your disk, and would leave the Mac side untouched.
Let's assume you want to your Mac to be "fully functional" for this class. THIS IS NOT A REQUIREMENT - JUST A CONVENIENCE!
There are two paths:
1) Use Boot Camp (included with your Mac) to partition your drive into 2 parts and install Windows on your machine.
The links above have detailed instructions. You'll basically be installing Windows on a separate partition (hmmmm - if your hard drive is a kitchen, then windows and Macs will be in a separate "cabinet").
You'll then boot into Windows, and install Office (after updating the OS, of course!). THEN you can swing by myITlab and do it's dance.
Parts needed: Windows Install disk, Office Install disk
Advantage: Boot Camp is free. Disadvantage: you have to reboot to switch into Windows.
2) Purchase something like VMWare Fusion - this is a program you run on your Mac, which then launches Windows. Running it this way means you can easily switch back and forth between the 2 side.
Process: Install VMWare Fusion. Crank it up, then install Windows (Fusion will have instructions on how). Then install Office, then do the myITlab dance.
Advantage: Windows exists in a folder (essentially), so there's no mucking around with the partition table. Can easily switch back and forth. Disadvantage: $40. Probably runs slower than the other option - it may not be enough to notice, though.
Posts
